Communications network extension via the spontaneous generation of new cells

ABSTRACT

The invention is a cellphone base station transceiver capable of spontaneously and substantially automatically creating a new cell in a communication network. This new cell provides an indiviual-Point-Of-Connect, which will be referred to as iPOC, for cell phone users that address many of these and other problems. The iPOC system, methods, devices, and computer programs provides wireless standard cell phone communication in areas where no cell phone service exists or within dead zones in existing cell phone network cells. Various embodiments of the iPOC include a portable, substantially-automated, user-installable dynamically-configurable cell phone base station device. 
     Said iPOC system, methods, devices and computer programs address many of the current quality of service issues cell phone users commonly experience as well as other problems. IPOC provides wireless standard cell phone communication in areas where no cell phone service exists or within dead zones in existing cell phone network cells.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This is an amendment for a continuation of application Ser. No.11/2511,277 filed Oct. 17, 2005 (now allow U.S. Pat. No. 7,555,260).

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to systems and methods for quickly anddynamically providing cell phone service in areas where no serviceexists and for enhancing service in areas supposedly with coverage, butwhere signal strength is intermittent, weak or nonexistent.

BACKGROUND

The telecommunication's industry had undergone tremendous growth andchange since Alexander Graham Bell first invented the telephone in 1876.During the 20th century we have seen the introduction and evolution of apublic wire line network that provides reliable and affordable voice andlow speed data communications throughout the world. Until fairlyrecently, the telephone system utilized analog signals over hardwiredland-lines for home and business communication. The installation of landlines is difficult and expensive especially in less developed areas ofthe world.

Mobile telephone communication was initially provided through aradiotelephone system. Each city had a single central tower with roughly25 communication channels available to a small number of users withradiophones in cars. The central antenna had sufficient power totransmit about 50 miles. The system also required a high power antennabe installed in each vehicle.

More recently, wireless telephone communication, cellular and cordlesstelephony, have gained wide spread popularity, but due to currentlimitations wireless phone service has not substantially displacedpublic wire-line networks. Despite the convenience and added flexibilityof mobile cellular, most cell phone users continue to have land-linephone service at home and at the office with unique phone numbers thatare different from their cell phone numbers. One reason users have notswitched entirely to cellular is that the quality of cell phone servicedoes not always match what they have grown accustomed to with theland-line service of the PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Network) orPOTS (Plain Old Telephone System). Cell phone network coverage areas areoften incomplete. There are dead zones in the network. Dead zones aresmall areas within a cell where signal strength in the cell phoneproviders network is weak or nonexistent. High quality serviceeverywhere in the network is not guaranteed.

The ultimate goal for wireless communication is to provide the end userwith uninterrupted wireless communications capability anywhere withoutregard to location or mobility.

Both cellular and cordless telephony provide some degree of mobility forthe end user. Cellular networks enables a cell phone, the mobiletransceiver, to operate over a wide area throughout the network ofcells. Cellular networks are designed to provide uninterrupted phoneconversations to users traveling through the network by a hand-off ofthe call from one base station to another. The network is designed toattempt to provide seamless transfer of a call from one base station toanother as the user crosses cell boundaries.

The basic cordless telephone proves a wireless alternative to thestandard telephone. It utilizes a simple user installed base stationthat connects to a standard telephone interface of the PSTN to provide alimited range of mobility in a relatively small area. A single privatecell is created in the vicinity of the base station typically 50 to 500meters. Although there are some wireless PBX applications supportingcordless phones, most cordless phones are used in a very small area inthe vicinity of a simple self installed base station connected to thePSTN.

Cell phone technology significantly increases the number of users thatcan simultaneously place wireless phone calls in the same geographicareas. Geographic region are divided into small cells allowing frequencyreuse so that large numbers of people can simultaneously use theirphones without interference. Cell phone networks can be complexconfigurations with smaller micro-cells existing within larger macrocells. In a typical sample configuration each cell may be about 10square miles. In general, all else being equal, as cell size decreases,the greater the frequency reuse, allowing much higher subscriberdensities per MHz of spectrum. In other words, as cell size decreasessystem capacity increases.

Cell phone networks are comprised of individual cells that cover aspecific geographic area within the network. Fixed position base stationtransceiver are used to create cells and the collection of cellsconstitute the network. It is a common mistake to believe that each cellhas a centrally positioned transmitting tower and radio equipment knownas a base station in the middle of the hexagon. Most cells are splitinto sectors to improve efficiency allowing them to carry more calls.Antennas normally transmit inward towards the center of each cell thuscovering only a portion of each cell's geographic area, but not thewhole cell. Each base station typically transmits and receives on 3different sets of channels, one for each sector of the 3 cells itcovers. Cells are commonly divided into 3 sectors, but sometime thereare only 2 sectors and occasionally there are as may as 6. A cellularsystem will have coverage gaps and dead zones within cells, but thehexagonal shape makes it easier conceptually for the planner tovisualize how the specific network is configured.

For simplicity, a cell is often conceptually thought of as a hexagoncell phone coverage grid created by a single base station transceiver.It is the geographic area in which a cell phone operates bycommunicating with a specific single base station. This is thedefinition of cell, what is meant, when the term is used hence forth inthis document unless otherwise stated.

Base station installation necessary to create a cell site can be fareasier and less expensive than land-line network installation; however,it requires preplanning and professional installation to ensure thatadjacent cells in the network do not interfere with each other. Thecellular network base stations typically have antenna that arepositioned over 50 ft above the ground. These base stations aretypically larger more permanent structures used to create standardcellphone network cells. Each cell typically has a coverage area radiusof 0.5-30 km.

Thus a cell phone base station is a substantially fixed-permanentstructure requiring substantial preplanning prior to installation.Operating frequencies must be selected to prevent interference with thepreexisting cell networks in the area near where the base station willreside. Base station installation requires personnel with specializedskills to do the preplanning and install the base station. Even whentemporary base stations are set up to handle unusually high call volumesin specific areas for things like sporting events, considerablepreplanning work is required to set up and install these base stations.

A large number of these substantially fixed-permanent base stations,typically hundreds, are required in each geographic region to create acell phone network. Each base station is connected to a Mobile TelephoneSwitching Office (MTSO). The MTSO controls all the base stations in theregion and handles all the phone connections to other phone systems. Themobile cell phone and the base station transmissions within the cell donot propagate very far outside the cell because each has low powertransmitters. Many cell phones have multiple signal strengths (e.g. 3Watts and 0.6 Watts) to help reduce interference and conserve batterypower.

Consider a common cell phone network configuration using a cluster ofbase stations with a frequency reuse pattern of 7 used to configure aprovider network. It is a system where each cell uses one-seventh of theavailable communication channels to help ensure adjacent cells do notuse the same frequencies to help prevent interference that would becaused when 2 cell phone users in close proximity attempt to place phonecalls over the same channel. Each cell phone uses 2 frequencies per callin order to provide full duplex communication so that both parties cantalk simultaneously. One frequency is used for the forward communicationpath, base station to mobile and the other provides the reverse path,mobile to base station communications. A Supervisory Audio Tone (SAT) isan inaudible high pitched tone that helps the system distinguish betweencallers on the same channel, but in different cells.

AMPS (Advanced Mobile Phone System) is a first generation analog cellphone system that has been available in the USA since 1983. An AMPS cellphone provider typically is allotted 832 frequencies to use in a city.42 frequencies are used for cell phone control channels leaving 790 forvoice communications. 2 frequencies are used for each voice channelleaving 395 voice channels per coverage area. Again a commonconfiguration it to allocate one seventh of the available frequencies toeach cell, which means that within any cell 56 people can talk at onetime on first generation analog cell phone system like AMPS. AMPS usesFM (frequency modulation) for voice transmission and FSK (frequencyshift keying) for signaling. Each call uses a different frequency. Thistype of spectrum sharing is know as FDMA (frequency division multipleaccess).

Newer digital systems make better uses of the available channelsenabling multiple simultaneous calls over voice channels. A digital cellphone system using TDMA (Time Division Multiple Access) can handle 168simultaneous calls, 3 times the number that can be handled on an analogsystem. CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access) is a method fortransmitting simultaneous signals over a shared portion of the spectrum.Qualcom for example operates CDMA cell phones in the 800 MHz band and1.9 GHz PCS (Personal Communication Service) band. CDMA phones are notedfor having excellent voice quality and long battery life. CDMA is lesscostly to implement, requiring fewer cell sites than GSM or TDMA digitalcell phone systems and providing 3 to 5 times the calling capacity. CDMAis becoming widely used in North America and is also expected to becomea 3rd generation technology for GSM (Global System for MobileCommunications). Currently GSM uses TDMA and is the predominant systemin Europe and is also used around the world. Unlike GSM and TDMA, whichdivides the spectrum into different time slots. GSM defines the entirecellular system, not just the air interfaces (e.g. FDMA, TDMA, etc.).CDMA uses a spread spectrum technique. A narrow band voice signal isspread across the full bandwidth of the CDMA channel. By using differentcodes, voice conversations share the full bandwidth. TDMA has a preciselimit to the number of simultaneous calls it can support. CDMA has nohard limit. The quality of the call starts to diminish as additionalusers are added.

Roaming is a term used to describe a cell phone's ability to utilizeanother cell phone provider's network in order to place a call in anarea without service by their provider. Roaming occurs when thesubscriber of one wireless service uses another providers wirelessnetwork. Roaming occurs if the System Identification Code (SID) on thecontrol channel does not match the SID programmed into the user's cellphone. Roaming charges may be expensive especially since the secondprovider often has no direct preexisting financial contract with theuser when the call is placed. In addition, the full complement of cellphone functions may not be available through another carriers networkespecially if it is an older analog network. If roaming is enabled onthe cell phone and the carrier's signal becomes weak, roaming can occureven if it is a cell phone in operating in its' own home calling area.In addition, if the user's network provider is at full capacity in thecell, all 56 channels being utilized for example, the cell phone may beconfigured to roam, using another provider's network instead of havingthe call dropped or blocked.

Since cell phones rely on radio waves that travel through air,communication can at times be unreliable. Metal objects, weatherconditions, large buildings, hilly terrain, and other objects caninterrupt phone calls or prevent cell phone communication in specificareas of a cell all together. Antenna positioning and the surroundinglandscape can create dead spots in a cell where signal strength is weakor non existent. This can be frustrating for customers especially when adead zone coincides with their place of residence. The user may have acell phone that works well most of the time, but when at home the cellphone may be non-operational or provide highly intermittent receptionwhere many calls are dropped.

Furthermore, cell phone providers tend to concentrate on building cellsand providing service in highly populated areas and areas well traveled.It is not uncommon to find no service outside of major cities or incursubstantial additional roaming charges. This can be particularlyfrustrating for people with a favorite weekend retreat or the primary orsecond home away from the city. Users are often required to pay for aseparate land-line with a different phone number in order to have phoneservice. A person attempting to reach someone may first call their cellphone number, then call their home number, then call their businessnumber and finally try the number at their second home (assuming theyknow all these numbers). When the service is available call forwardingcan be used to redirect phone calls from one number to another, but thatrequires repeated manual procedures to enable and disable.

There are systems available commercially that capture signals from anexisting cell, transmit via wires into a building and then amplify andrebroadcast the signal within the building. These systems also capturethe signal from cell phones within the building, transmit via wires toan antenna outside the building and them amplify the signals andrebroadcast. These systems can be used improve signal quality within abuilding in an existing cell. However, these systems do not extend thenetwork outside the cell, but simply amplify existing cell phone signalswithin an existing cell. They require specialists to install and set upthe equipment.

The Global Positioning System (GPS) was designed to allow users todetermine their precise position anywhere on earth. It was originallydesigned for military navigation, but can now be used by anyone. With arelatively simple inexpensive receiver one's position anywhere on theearth can be determined at any moment. GPS consists of 27 earth-orbitingsatellites, 24 in operation and 3 spares. Each satellite makes 2complete rotations every day. The satellites are arranged so that atleast 4 are visible in the sky at any location on earth at any time. TheGPS receiver determines the distance to each satellite. With thatinformation and using a mathematical principle called trilaterationprecise position can be determined. Regularly, at predetermined instantsof time, the satellites begin transmitting a pseudo-random code. Thereceiver begins running the same digital pattern at the same time. Bycomparing the patterns from each satellite, it can determine the timelag which is then uses to determine the distance to each satellite. Only3 satellites are required to determine one's position, but with thedistance information from a 4th satellite the receiver can determine howfar off its' quartz clock is from the extremely precise, but veryexpensive atomic clocks on each satellite and correct for any errors dueto clocking variations. Thus, inexpensive quartz clocks can be used toreduce the cost of a GPS receiver and still provide extremely accuratepositioning.

Caller ID can be used to transmit the phone number and sometimes thename of the caller to the phone receiving the call right after the firstring. A standard phone uses a 90 Volt AC 20 Hz ring signal. A techniqueknown as FSK (Frequency Shift Keying) is used to transmit ASCIIcharacters to the caller ID modem circuitry in-between the first andsecond ring

SUMMARY

The embodiments of the present invention is a cellphone base stationtransceiver capable of spontaneously and substantially automaticallycreating a new cell in a communication network. This new cell providesan indiviual-Point-Of-Connect, which will be referred to as iPOC, forcell phone users that address many of these and other problems. The iPOCsystem, methods, devices, and computer programs provides wirelessstandard cell phone communication in areas where no cell phone serviceexists or within dead zones in existing cell phone network cells.Various embodiment of the iPOC include a portable,substantially-automated, user-installable dynamically-configurable cellphone base station device.

Many of the embodiments described in the remaining text describe iPOCcan be used to create a new cell in a cell phone network, because thatis an obvious and extremely useful exploitation of the invention.Nevertheless it should be understood that iPOC can be used to create anew cell in virtually any communications network, not just cell phonenetworks or telephone networks.

One embodiment of the iPOC base station connects through acommunications network to the cell phone providers network dynamicallycreating a new cell in order to provide cell phone communications at aremote location where no service is currently offered or within a deadcell zone where poor or intermittent service within a cell isencountered. In this embodiment, when the iPOC base station is initiallypowered on, it connects a cell phone network controller via one or moreinterconnected communication channels such as a computer network, theInternet, a LAN (Local Area Network), a WAN (Wide Area Network), ananalog telephone line with modem, a dedicated telephone line, a wirelessLAN or other available communication channels. The many differentcommunication channels can be utilized as long as they providessufficient bandwidth and low latency to facilitate acceptable voicecommunications. Once a communication link is established with theappropriate cell phone provider's network controller, the iPOC basestation transmits information about itself to the network controller andrequests that it be added and connected as a new cell to the providersexisting cell phone network. The network controller can be the MTSO(Mobile Telephone Switching Office) server of the cell phone providerfor that area and handles the requests directly. Another embodimentwould use a controller independent of the cell phone provider's networkcontroller. It would be used to do some amount of screening andpreprocessing of the iPOC cell phone provider's network attachmentrequests before forwarding the requests to the cell phone provider'snetwork controller. If an intermediate controller is employed, saidcontroller will be used to do some preprocessing to determine thephysical location of the new cell and then forward the request to theappropriate MTSO. This will be a MTSO for a specific geographic area inthe provider's network. In another embodiment the iPOC portable basestation is configured with a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiverallowing it to easily determine its' precise position. The controllerroutes the portable base station location information to the cell phoneprovider requesting that it be configured into their network. Each iPOCportable base station has a unique identifier. The cell phone providerchecks the information which would include location of the portable basestation, maximum antenna transmission power and other parameters. TheiPOC base station may have a small number of hardwired operatingfrequencies or the frequencies may be configurable by the networkprovider's controller or intermediate controller. If the providerdetermines that in the geographic area of said iPOC base station thatthe frequencies available to use will not interfere with the existingnetwork or other iPOC units in the vicinity it can elect to make thisiPOC portable base station part of its' network thus creating a new cellin their existing wireless network. The provider will determine how manychannels the iPOC can use and on which frequencies it will operate toensure that it will not interfere with the existing fixed network ofpermanent base stations. One embodiment of the iPOC would have one ormore reserved cell phone channels, operating frequencies, for the iPOCunit to simplify the processes of ensuring the iPOCs do not interferewith the existing cell phone network. Once the iPOC is connected as partof the cell phone providers network, the iPOC portable base station mayhave limited function supporting only a single cell phone connection ora small number of specific number of cell phones to simplify the designand minimize interaction with the provider network. Yet anotherembodiment would be configured with the full complement of functionalcapabilities similar to a permanent base station of the provider'snetwork. If the network controller looses communication with a portablebase station or finds it is unresponsive to commands it will remove itfrom its' network.

Another embodiment of the iPOC base station would use a low powertransmission with a single control channel and a small number of voicechannels to provide communication for a small number of cell phones usedin a geographically fixed small establishment such as a home or office.Another embodiment of said low power iPOC base station would havereserved communication frequencies to simplify the design for a singleestablishment supporting a small number of cell phones.

Another embodiment of the iPOC base station is a device that connectsdirectly to a standard phone jack to interface to the POTS (Plain OldTelephone System) or PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Network). A cellphone user finding poor quality service or no cell phone service in aparticular geographic area where they plan to reside for some time, saytheir home or a hotel room or a second home, can connect this embodimentof the iPOC base station to a standard PSTN. This embodiment of the iPOCbase station is a compact simplified cell phone base station transceiverthat wirelessly communicates with standard cell phone via standard cellphone interfaces and protocols used by the cell phone provider. The iPOCunit converts standard cell phone wireless signals, commands and voicechannel into standard land line telephone signals so that a standardPSTN can be used to handle a cell phone call when normal providernetwork service does not exit at a particular site. In this embodimentthe iPOC base station supports one or more cell phones, but perhaps moretypically a single cell phone. It has a limited number of voice channelsto keep the unit small and simple. The iPOC unit is connected to astandard phone jack via a standard phone cable and powered on. When iPOCunit is powered on and detects a cell phone in its' micro-cell operatingarea, it dials a predefined phone number and through a standard PSTNline using an integrate phone modem in the iPOC unit it establishes acommunication connection to a network controller, a server or otherpiece of electronic equipment. Via this connection it has establishedover a standard PSTN communications channel with said controller theiPOC unit requests permission to join the Cell Phone Provider's Networkso that phone calls for this cell phone can be redirected to said iPOCunit. Said server may be the MTSO of the cell phone network provider oran intermediate controller that does some preprocess of the request. Ineither case, if the cell phone network provider approves the request andallows said iPOC unit to become part of their network, cell phone callswill then be forwarded to said iPOC unit through the PSTN. If the iPOCunit is permitted to become part of the cell phone providers network, itwill disconnect the modem communication interface from the PSTN phoneline and wait for an incoming call from the PSTN or an outgoing callfrom the cell phone. The iPOC unit will respond to any incoming callassuming it is a cell phone call and attempt to establish communicationwith the cell phone network. In this manner both normal PSTN phonetraffic and cell phone calls coming from the cell phone network can behandled by a cell phone connected through the iPOC. When caller ID isunavailable, the phone number to which the iPOC unit is connected willneed to be manually entered so that the cell phone network knows whereto direct the calls. If call ID is available it will be determined bythe network automatically.

In this embodiment of the iPOC when the cell phone provider's networkcontroller receives an incoming call for said cell phone, it nowredirects the call through the standard PSTN to the phone lineassociated with the phone number it received from the iPOC unit whensaid iPOC unit first negotiated connection to the network. When the iPOCunit receives a ring signal from the PSTN it transmits correspondingsignals to the cell phone causing it to ring. The iPOC unit uses thesame signals and communication interface to the cell phone a standardcell phone base station uses. It sends out a digital paging message forthe mobile on the forward control channel. The mobile receives the page,confirms and seizes the control channel. The iPOC unit assigns a voicechannel and sends the assignment to the cell phone on the forwardcontrol path and at nearly the same time transmits the SAT on theforward voice path. The mobile tunes to the assigned channel, receivesthe tone and transponds the tone back to the iPOC unit on the reversevoice path. The iPOC unit detects this and sends an alert order usingblank and burst on the voice channel to the mobile causing the cellphone to ring. If the cell phone user answers the call, the iPOC unitdetects this via standard cell phone communications and takes the lineback to the PSTN off hook. The iPOC unit converts the analog voicesignal coming in from the phone line into wireless analog or digitalsignals depending on which specific cell phone system it operating withto engage in a call. The iPOC also converts wireless analog or digitalsignals on the voice channel from the cell phone into analog voicesignals on the phone line so that a complete 2 way phone connection withthe cell phone is established via the PSTN.

For an outgoing call from the cell phone, the cell phone user simplyuses the cell phone in the same way they would use it when connected toa standard network cell. They can dial or enter the phone number of thephone they wish to call into the cell phone and presses talk. Thestandard wireless signals for the particular cell phone network aretransmitted between the cell phone and the iPOC unit through which thecall is routed. The iPOC unit converts the cell phone signals into a offhook on the phone line and once it detects a dial tone, it transmits thephone number through phone line in order to establish a connection. Oneembodiment of this invention would have the iPOC unit first dial apredefined phone number, perhaps a toll free 800 number, to establish aconnection to the cell phone provider's network through the standardPSTN. Once this connection is established, the iPOC unit would transmitthe phone number for which the cell phone user wishes to place the call.In this way the cell phone provider can be aware of all outgoing callsfrom the cell phone.

In this embodiment of the invention, if the iPOC unit looses contactwith the cell phone for some predetermined period of time it willreestablish contact with the cell phone network through its' phone modeminterface and inform the cell phone provider to resume normal cell phoneoperations and not to forward calls to this number on the PSTN.

Unlike a standard cell phone network where voice quality is notguaranteed, where calls can be dropped and voice quality can be quitepoor at times, an iPOC cell will typically provide much higher voicequality. The position of a standard network cell base station is fixedand signal quality at different positions in a standard network cell isdictated by objects and signals that may cause interference, by theweather and by the unique signal transmission characteristics of thearea, all of which change over time. By utilizing the iPOC dynamicportable user-installable base station connected directly to a hardwiredland line of the POTS, the cell phone user will more often experiencevoice quality comparable to a standard telephone because the cell phoneuser can minimize interference and signal degradation since distancebetween the iPOC unit and the cell phone will be much shorter. Inaddition, with an iPOC unit plugged directly into a land line thespecific position of the iPOC unit can be changed as necessary toimprove signal quality within the iPOC cell. For example the iPOC unitused in a home might be moved from the down stairs to the upstairs phonejack. Repositioning the base station is not something a cellphone usercontrols in a standard network cell. The cell-phone base-stationinterface it designed to provide good voice quality when the phone ismany miles from the base station. Using this same protocol in a smallmicro cell can improve voice quality.

Another embodiment of this invention is to use the iPOC unit as a highquality cordless phone base station. It can plug into a analog phoneline or any communication channel with sufficient bandwidth and latencyto support phone traffic. Outgoing calls form the cell phone can be sentout directly through the analog phone line or other communicationnetwork. Incoming calls are routed directly to the number for the analogphone line, through the iPOC unit and on to the cell phone. This ofcourse could only happen if the cell phone network provider, the FCC andother regulatory organization in various countries permit use of thesecell phone frequencies for this type of application.

Yet another embodiment is envisioned that enables the cell phone torespond to both incoming calls from the cell phone network providerbeing routed through the iPOC unit as well as normal telephone callscoming in through the analog phone line number.

In another embodiment of the invention, caller ID is used to allow theiPOC base station to share a phone line with another phone. In thisembodiment the iPOC unit upon detecting a ring signal will intercept andexamine the caller ID information. If it recognizes the info, it willaccept the call other wise it will do nothing.

In yet another embodiment of this invention the iPOC base station isconfigured with a means for determining its location such as GPS (GlobalPositioning System) in the iPOC unit. GPS allows the iPOC unit todetermine its' location so that when it first contacts the cell phonenetwork provider controller to negotiate being added to the providernetwork the controller can use the location information to aid indeciding if it should allow the iPOC unit to become part of the network.For example it could determine that operation of the iPOC unit mightinterfere with the existing substantially permanent-fixed network. Itcould also give the OK to join the network, but first adjust the powerlever or the voice/control channel frequencies being used to help ensureno interference occurs.

Although keeping the iPOC unit functionally simple could help ensure itis compact, portable, low power and easy to install, the state ofelectronic technology is such that complex functions can be implement ina small number of VLSI (Very Large Scale Integration) chips and inmicrocode stored in dense ROM (Read Only Memory) Chip and in otherrelatively small HDDs (Hard Disk Devices) that allow compact automateddesign be realized creating devices with robust sophisticatedfunctionality. With sufficiently low-latency high-bandwidthcommunication interface available, it is possible for the iPOC units tobe in direct contact with the MTSO and implement complex function, suchas call hand off between adjacent cells in the network or borrow andshare voice channels with adjacent cells during peak load periods. Itwould be possible for a large number of cells to be created by iPOCunits to lessen the need for more permanent base stations in aparticular cell phone provider network area.

Proper frequency allocation is critical for ensuring the portable iPOCbase station does not interfere with the existing cell phone network.The iPOC unit can be designed with GPS (Global Positioning System)functionality so that when it initially powered on, and then again atregular intervals, it determines its' location and transmits thelocation to the cell phone provider network controller. In this way theprovider's controller can automatically configure said base station touse only frequencies that will not interfere with the standard fixedcells in the immediate area of the portable iPOC base station. It isalso possible for the cell phone service provider to utilize the iPOCbase station to service other cell phone users. In this way the iPOCbase station can be used to help fill holes in the overall providernetwork.

Another embodiment of this invention is envisioned where an iPOC basestation transceiver device is created using an information processingdevice such as a personal computer or laptop computer. Some informationprocessing devices today are equipped with a wireless transceiver usedto establish a communication link with a wireless router for connectingto networks such as the Internet. In this embodiment of iPOC, a wirelesstransceiver in the information processing device would be useddifferently. It would be designed to communicate with a cell phone via astandard wireless cell phone interface. Via hardware integrated into theinformation processing device or a combination of integrated hardwareand executable programs in microcode and application software, aninformation processing device can be configured to function as an iPOCbase station transceiver. Said information processing device canfunction as an iPOC bases station transceiver when appropriatelyequipped and configured to communicate with a cell phone and when it hasan adequate communication channel with sufficiently high bandwidth andsufficiently low latency that allows it to connect to a separatecommunication system such as a telephone system or cellphone system toroute calls and provide voice communications. For example, if this isimplemented in a laptop computer, one embodiment would allow aspontaneous micro-cell be formed automatically any time the lap top isoperational and connected to a communications network. Naturally it isimportant that the iPOC unit not interfere with existing networks atthat location or violate FCC or other country regulations. This could beaccomplished by restricting the frequencies it uses, minimizingtransmission power and the size of the new micro cell or determiningits' geographic position and configuration it appropriately. Thisembodiment could provide the user with cell phone communications in thevicinity of their lap top world wide completely independent of the cellphone system being used in the country he resides anytime his laptop isrunning and connected to an adequate communications link.

Yet another embodiment is envisioned where the iPOC unit is set up an acompletely remote location with no utility electric power. In thisembodiment battery power or solar power or a combination of the twowould be used to power the iPOC unit in order to create a new cell. Asatellite link could be used to connect the iPOC unit to a networkcontroller to negotiate establishment of the new cell. The satelliteline would also be used as the conduit for cell phone communications.

Another embodiment of the invention would listen to determine what othercells are operating in it's vicinity and communicate this informationback to an intermediate server or the cell phone provider's networkdirectly. This information could be used to determine if an iPOC unitshould be allowed to join the network and what operating characteristics(e.g. voice channel frequencies, number of voice channels, antenna powertransmitting levels, control channels, etc. . . . ) it should beconfigured with and allowed to use. For an already operational iPOC unitthe information could be collected over time and shared with cell phoneproviders to help understand traffic patterns to help in planning futureexpansion of their more permanent network structure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an example of a cell phone network composed of individualcells create using cell phone base stations illustrating how no adjacentcell uses the same set frequencies thus preventing interference.

FIG. 2 illustrates the iPOC base station can be used to enhance the cellphone providers network by creating new cells in areas where no serviceis currently provided or where signal strength within an existing cellis weak.

FIG. 3 illustrates one embodiment of an iPOC portable user-installabledynamic base station.

FIG. 4 illustrates an embodiment of this invention with an iPOC basestation connected via several different communication channel paths to acell phone providers network.

FIG. 5 illustrates an embodiment of this invention with an iPOC basestation connected via a standard telephone communication channel pathvia a POTS to a cell phone providers network.

FIG. 6 is a flow chart showing one embodiment of how a iPOC base stationwhere it negotiates to become part of the existing network so that phonetraffic is rerouted to it and how it requests to have phone trafficresume normal operation.

FIG. 7 is a flow chart showing one embodiment of the steps for handlingan incoming call.

FIG. 8 is a low chart showing one embodiment of the steps for handlingan outgoing call.

FIG. 9 is an information processing device

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The embodiments of the present invention enhances cell phone networkperformance and extends the range of operation through with a portabledynamically configurable base station.

FIG. 1 is an example of how an existing cell phone network can beconfigured using individual base stations to create individual cellsthat when used together create a cell phone network. In this examplecells 5001, 5002, 5003, 5004, 5005, 5006, 5007 are each assigned uniquevoice channel and control channel frequencies. Typically, the cell phonenetwork will have 56 voice channels and 6 control channels. Allocationof unique frequencies to 7 different cells facilitates networkconfigurations where each of the 7 cell types can be reused in thenetwork so that adjacent cells do not use the same frequencies. Thisconfiguration helps prevent call interference since cells using the samefrequencies are not adjacent to each other. In FIG. 1 it can be seenthat the frequencies assigned to cells 5001 is reused 3 times in thisnetwork 5001 a, 5001 b, 5001 c and that these cells are not directlyadjacent to one another. The same non-adjacency rule holds true for theother cells in the illustration using the other 6 frequencies. A cellnetwork control station 720, a MTSO (Mobile Telephone Switching Office)interfaces with and controls each base station. The MTSO handles phoneconnections to other phone systems too, using communication channel 740.In this illustration the cell phone network is comprised only of thearea covered by all the cells. The area outside the cells is a “NoService Area” 9000 where no base station signals reach. There is cellphone service from this provider in area 9000. There is a Dead Zone 4000in cell 5005 where signal strength is weak due to unique topologycharacteristics of the area.

FIG. 2 illustrates how the iPOC base station can extend cell phoneservice to the sample network depicted in FIG. 1. The iPOC is used toenhance the cell phone providers network by providing service to areaswhere no service is currently provided and where signal strength withinan existing cell is weak. In this example in FIG. 2 iPOC base stationcells 6001 a, 6001 b, 6001 c and 6006 are used to enhance the networkdescribed in FIG. 1. In the example the iPOC base station cells 6001 and6006 use the same voice and control frequencies as in permanent basestation for cell type 5001 and 5006 respectively. Said iPOC base stationcell 6001 c is used to provide service in the “No Service Area” 9000 inan area well away from the existing permanent cell phone provider'snetwork so interference with other cells in not an issue. Said iPOC basestation cell 6001 a is used to fill dead zone 4000 in cell 5005. Sincecell 5005 uses different frequencies than iPOC cell 6001 a nointerference will occur. The closest permanent cell that iPOC cell 6001a might possibly interfere with is permanent cell 5001 b. When iPOC cell6001 a first negotiates to be added to the network its physical locationand transmitting power must be determined and used to decide whichfrequencies it should be assigned to help prevent interference withnearby permanent cells. Another embodiment of this invention is toassign unique voice and control channels to portable base stations whichare not used in the permanent network, but that would be recognized ascommunication channels by the cell phones. This would simplifyadministration and guarantee that they do not interfere with permanentbase stations. However, it would still be desirable to analyze thephysical location and transmitting power to ensue they don't interferewith other iPOC base station cells. In this example iPOC base stationcell 6001 b is physically located near where permanent cells 5005 and5002 meet. The frequencies used by iPOC cell 6001 b are the same as thatused by 5001, so its' channels will not interfere with 5005 nor 5002.The iPOC cell 6001 b overlaps with 6006, but again since they usedifferent channel frequencies there is no interference. Otherembodiments using spread spectrum technologies like CDMA could simplifythe frequency assignment for iPOC cells by providing special codes thatare only used by iPOC cells.

FIG. 3 illustrates an embodiment of an iPOC base station 110. It has anantenna 111 used to transmit and receive signals from a cell phone inthe vicinity of said iPOC unit 110. Said antenna 111 is connected toelectronics 114 with the iPOC unit 110 that provides the functionalityof iPOC unit 110. There is a power supply 115 that connects to via powercode 105 to an AC wall outlet to provide power for the electronics andthe antenna. It would also be possible to free DC power in from outsidethe unit. Embodiments that draw power from the a phone line areenvisioned. There is a GPS feature 112 in this embodiment. Thisembodiment has a communications port 117 that connects the iPOC unit 110to a cell phone network controller 130, which can be an intermediateserver or the MTSO controller via a communication network 119 to createcommunication path 120. Communication plan 120 is used by iPOC unit 110to communicate with network controller 130 to facilitate negotiation todetermine if iPOC unit 110 will be allowed to become a base stationconnected to the cell phone providers network and the media for cellphone communication. Communication network 119 can be any communicationmedium that has sufficiently low latency and sufficiently high bandwidthto facilitate cell phone communication. Common media include ethernetconnections, a dedicated phone line like a T1 line, a standard switchedtelephone line, a modem connection over an standard telephone line, acable modem connection, DSL (digital subscriber line) or virtually anyother type of communication channel. In this embodiment there is acomputer port 116 that allows 118 a computer or lap top to connect tothe iPOC unit 110. Another embodiment would include an alphanumerickeypad and display 119 used to configure iPOC device 110. The computer118 can be used to configure the unit or it could be used as a permanentsubsystem of the iPOC unit in order to simply the electronics of iPOCunit 110. Another embodiment of the iPOC unit would be to implement theiPOC functionality as code running on computer 118 with the iPOC unit110 as an integrated set of electronics within computer 118. In thisembodiment the iPOC unit 110 could be just an antenna with minimalelectronics. In fact it could even be a pluggable card (e.g. PCI card orUSB device) into the computer 118 or built in as a standard part of thecomputer 118.

FIG. 4 illustrates an embodiment of this invention which is a systemwith iPOC base station 110 that is in communication with cell phone 101via the standard cell phone signals and protocol 105 this cell phoneproviders network. The iPOC base station 110 connects to network 500 viaconnection path 150 to provide the first leg of the communication pathfor cell phone communications at a remote location where no service iscurrently offered or to provide service in a dead cell zone where pooror intermittent service within a cell is encountered. In this embodimentnetwork 500 is a cable TV system network, but this invention is notlimited to this type of network. Network 500 can be any network withsuitable latency and bandwidth. When iPOC base station 110 is initiallypowered on, it connects through network 500 to unit 520. Unit 520 is aserver, a router, or other type of equipment that enables network 500 tocommunicate with other networks which in this embodiment is Internet600. Said device 520 in turn connects through the Internet 600 tonetwork controller 620. In this embodiment the connection path 150 fromiPOC base station 110 to said communication network 500 is via a cablemodem using standard modem protocol. In other embodiments of theinvention other communication medium and communication protocols withsuitable latency and bandwidth can be used. Connection paths usingethernet, fiber optic cable, T1, telephone line with modem, or wirelessLAN are envisioned. Once a communication path is established betweeniPOC base station 110 to network controller 620, iPOC base station 110provides information about itself to network controller 620 and requeststhat it be connected as a new cell to the providers existing cell phonenetwork. In this embodiment network controller 620 is an intermediatecontroller that establishes a communication path with MTSO (MobileTelephone Switching Office) network controller 720. Other embodimentsare envisioned with multiple intermediate controllers for large systemconfigurations. Another embodiment is to have the MTSO networkcontroller 720 be the only network controllers thus eliminating the needfor network controller 620. Yet another embodiment is to configure thesystem so that network controller 620 and MTSO network control 720 areone in the same and the MTSO handles the request directly. In theembodiment illustrated in FIG. 5 intermediate network controller 620does some preprocessing to determine the physical location of the newcell and then forwards the request to MTSO network controller 720, theMTSO network controller for the geographic area that portable iPOC basestation 110 wishes to join in cell phone providers network 700. In theembodiment in FIG. 4 GPS satellites 900 are used by electronics in iPOCbase station 110 to determine its locations. Other embodiments usingother location determination techniques are also envisioned. Anotherembodiment would be to have multiple MTSO network controllers wherenetwork controller 620 first determines which MTSO network controllerfor which requests should be forwarded. Network controller 620 routesthe iPOC base station 110 information to the cell phone provider's MTSOnetwork controller 720 requesting that it be configured into network 700as a new cell. The iPOC base station 110 will have a unique identifierto distinguish ii from other iPOC base stations. The cell phoneprovider's controller 720 checks the information which it receives fromnetwork controller 620, which in this embodiment includes location ofthe iPOC base station 110 functional characteristics such as maximumantenna transmission power, operating frequencies and other parameters.The iPOC base station 110 can be configured with one or more hardwiredoperating frequencies or it can be dynamically configured to usefrequencies that that network controller 620 or MTSO network controller720 select during initial set up and activation. If the cell phoneprovider controller 720 determines that operating said iPOC base station110 in the geographic area where it is located will not result ininterference with the existing networks it can elect to allow it to beconfigured as a new iPOC cell in their existing wireless network. Thecell phone provider will determine how many channels it can use and theoperating frequencies to ensure that it will not interfere with theexisting fixed network of permanent base stations. Once portable iPOCbase station 110 is configured as part of the provider network 700, saidportable base station may have limited function to support a single orsmall number of specific cell phone users. Other embodiments envision itto be configured with the full complement of functional capabilities,more like the permanent base stations of the provider's networkincluding more complex functions like hand-off of calls to adjacentcells as the cell phone moves in and out of range of said new iPOC cell.If MTSO controller 720 looses communication with the iPOC base station110 or finds it is unresponsive to commands it will remove it from its'network. After the initial negotiation by the iPOC base station 110 tobecome part of the network, call traffic to and from the iPOC unit 110to cell phone network 700 may propagate through a variety ofcommunication paths and does not necessarily have to always travelthrough network controller 620, unless of course there is a need tomonitor all communications traffic at a central point. Embodiments ofthis invention will include dynamic interconnection with multipledynamic communication paths with full duplex communication supported.The Internet for example uses protocols TCP/IP which facilitatesreliable transmission and re-assembly the data packets at the enddestination. The package may travel over a variety of communicationpaths and mediums even if the packets arrive out of order. Someembodiments of this invention are envisioned using TCP/IP as well asother protocols. Indeed, FIG. 4 illustrates that network 500 can alsoconnect through server/router 820 in POTS network 800 back throughInternet 600 or directly to cell phone network 700 through MTSOcontroller 720 as yet other communication paths. Many different pathsare possible through the network allowing cell phone 101 to place orreceive phone call to other phones including standard phone 801connected to POTS network 800 and cell phone 701 connected to the cellphone providers network 700.

FIG. 5 depicts another embodiment of a system using iPOC base station110 connected to POTS network 800 via standard telephone connection 160.The iPOC unit 110 is a cell phone base station transceiver thatwirelessly communicates with standard cell phone 101 via the cell phonenetwork providers standard cell phone signals, interface and protocols105. The iPOC base station 110 converts standard cell phone wirelesssignal, commands and voice channel into standard land line telephonesignals so that a standard POTS network 800 sends and receives callsthrough standard POTS switching equipment to unit 820. In thisembodiment, a simplified low power base station 110 supports a smallnumber of cell phones, perhaps most normally only a single cell phone101. In this embodiment iPOC unit 110 is connected to a standard phonejack via a standard phone cable and powered on. When iPOC unit 110detects a cell phone 101 in its' micro-cell operating area it dials apredefined phone number through the POTS network to MTSO controller 720which answers the call creating communications path 160 and 170. Usingan integrated phone modem in iPOC base station 110 said iPOC unit 110uses a communication paths 160 and 170 to MTSO controller 720 to requestpermission to join the Cellphone Provider's Network 700, so that phonecalls for cell phone 101 can be redirected to said iPOC unit 110. Otherembodiments of the invention are envisioned where MTSO networkcontroller 720 may be or an intermediate server that does somepreprocess of the requests. In either case, if the network providerapproves the request and allows said iPOC unit 110 to become part ofcell phone network 700, from then on, cell phone call will be forwardedto said iPOC unit 110 through the POTS 800. In this embodiment of theinvention, if the iPOC unit 110 is permitted to become part of the cellphone provider's network 700, it will disengage communication path 160and 170, disconnecting the modem communication interface and wait for anincoming call from the POTS 800 or an outgoing call from cell phone 101.Where caller ID is unavailable the phone number of the phone line towhich the iPOC unit 110 is connected will be entered manually, otherwiseit will be automatically transmitted to cell phone network provider'snetwork controller 720 via POTS 800.

When the cell phone provider's network 700 receives an incoming call forsaid cell phone 101, it now redirects the call through the standard POTS800 to the phone line using the phone number where the iPOC unit 110 isconnected establishing communication path 160 to the iPOC unit 110.

When the iPOC unit 110 receives a ring signal from the POTS 800 ittransmits corresponding standard signals for that network provider tothe cell phone 101 over standard cell phone wireless communicationinterface 105 causing cell phone 101 to ring. The iPOC unit 110 convertsstandard POTS signals and protocols to a standard cell signal 105. Inthis embodiment iPOC unit 110 sends out a digital paging message for themobile 101 on the forward control channel. The mobile 101 receives thepage, confirms and seizes the control channel. The iPOC unit 110 assignsa voice channel and sends the assignment to the cell phone on theforward control path and at nearly the same time transmits the SAT onthe forward voice path. The mobile 101 tunes to the assigned channel,receives the tone and transponds the tone back to the iPOC unit 110 onthe reverse voice path. The iPOC unit 110 detects this and sends analert order using blank and burst on the voice channel to the mobile 101causing the cell phone 101 to ring. If the cell phone user answers thecall, the iPOC unit 110 detects this via standard cell phonecommunications and take the line back to the POTS 800 off hook. The iPOCunit 110 converts the standard POTS voice signal coming in from thephone line via communication path 160 into wireless analog or digitalsignals for the specific cell phone system being used to permit the cellphone 101 engages in a call. It also converts 105 wireless analog ordigital signals on the voice channel from the cell phone 101 into analogvoice signals on the phone line communication channel 160 so that acomplete full duplex 2 way phone connection with cell phone 101 isestablished. Calls between cell phone 101 and any other phone in theinterconnected phone network like traditional telephone 801 or cellphone 701 can be established. Other embodiments are also envisioned.

For an outgoing call from the cell phone 101, the cell phone user entersthe phone number they wish to call into the cell phone and presses talk.The standard wireless signals 105, for this cell phone network provider,are transmitted between cell phone 101 with the iPOC unit 110 throughwhich the call is to be routed. In this embodiment iPOC unit 110converts the cell phone signals 105 into an off hook on the phone line.Once it detects a dial tone it transmits the phone number through phoneline communications channel 160 in order to establish a connection. Oneembodiment of this invention would have the iPOC unit 110 first dial apredefined phone number, perhaps a toll free 800 number, to establish aconnection via communication path 170 to cell phone provider MTSOcontroller 720 through the standard POTS 800. Once this connection isestablished the iPOC unit 110 would transmit the phone number for whichthe cell phone user wishes to place the call. This way the cell phoneprovider can be aware of all outgoing calls from cell phone 101. Callsbetween cell phone 101 and any other phone in the interconnected phonenetwork, like traditional telephone 801 or cell phone 701 can beestablished. Other embodiments are also envisioned including using anintermediate server vs. connecting directly to MTSO network controller720 directly.

In this embodiment of the invention, if iPOC unit 110 looses contactwith the cell phone 101 for some significant period of time it willreestablish contact with the cell phone network 700 through its' phonemodem interface and inform the cell phone providers network 700 toresume normal cell phone operations and not to forward calls to thisnumber through POTS 800.

FIG. 6 Is one embodiment of the invention showing a logical flowillustrating how an iPOC base station joins and leaves a cell phoneproviders network. Step 7001 is the iPOC device powering on. Some timelater after power on 7001 is complete step 7002 occurs where the iPOCdevice detects an active cell phone in the cell area established by theiPOC base station. Upon detection of the active cell phone the iPOCdevice initiates step 7003 requesting permission to become an activecell in the cell phone providers network. A decision is made in step7005 to either not allow the iPOC device to become part of the providersnetwork which in that case step 7010 occurs where the cell phone networkcontinues to handle cell phone calls in its' standard manner. If duringstep 7005 the iPOC unit is granted permission to join the cell phoneproviders network step 7006 is executed where the iPOC base station isnow recognized as part of the cell phone providers network and is readyto handle call traffic. In this embodiment step 7007 is executed if theactive iPOC unit looses contact with the all active cell phones invicinity of the cell it has created. In step 7008 if it continues tofinds an active cell phone it remains in an active cell state. If it nolonger find an active cell phone in it's cell, it proceeds to step 7009where it informs the provider that it is disconnecting from the networkas an active cell and the cell phone provider should resume operation,step 7010, where calls are no longer forwarded to this iPOC unit.Another embodiment is envisioned where the iPOC unit requests to becomean active cell in the provider's network immediately after it powers up,independent of whether or not it detects an active cell phone in its'cell. If granted permission to become part of the network it wouldremain active indefinitely.

FIG. 7 Is one embodiment of the invention showing a logical flowillustrating how an incoming call is handled. In step 8001 the cellphone providers network receives an incoming call for a cell phone. Instep 8002 it determines whether or not the call should be directed to acell phone in an active cell created by an iPOC device that has beenallowed to join the cell phone providers network. If in step 8003 itdetermines that this call is not to go to an active cell phone in aniPOC cell it proceeds to step 8009 and handles the call in the standardmanner for the network. If in step 8003 it determines the call isintended for a cell phone in an active iPOC cell it proceeds to step8004 where the cell phone network communicates with the iPOC deviceinforming it has a call for a cell phone with a specific phone number inits' cell. In the next step 8005, it is determined if the cell phone isalready in use. If it is in use, the iPOC unit transmits a busy signalback through the cell phone providers network to the phone of the personinitiating the call, step 8008. The call is terminated, step 8009 andthe provider's network returns to handling calls in it's standardmanner, step 8010. On the other hand if in step 8005 the line is notbusy then the next step 8006 is executed where the iPOC device transmitssignals recognized by the cell phone making it ring. In step 8007 if thecell phone users does not answer the call the phone continues to ringindefinitely. If the call is answered in step 8007 then step 8011 isexecuted where the iPOC device informs the cell phone providers networkthat the call has been answered. In the next step 8012, the cell phoneprovider routes the call to iPOC and completes the connection and thecall is in progress, step 8013. The call remains active until eitherparty ends the call, step 8014 and it is the end of the call is detectedin step 8009. The call is terminated and the cell phone provider'snetwork returns to normal operation in step 8010.

FIG. 8 Is one embodiment of the invention showing a logical flowillustrating how an outgoing call is handled. In step 9001 a cell userinitiates a cell phone call in an active iPOC cell. Next, step 9002, theiPOC device detects the cell phone call request and initiates step 9003to determine if said cell phone is authorized to use the network. TheiPOC unit may have already determined this or may need to communicatewith the provider's network to make the determination. In step 9004 ifthe cell phone is not authorized it takes no action and proceeds withstep 9012 where the cell phone providers network continues to operate asbefore the call attempt. If in step 9004 it is determined that this isan authorized phone, it is then executed in step 9005 where the cellphone providers network attempts to complete the connection with thephone number supplied by the cell phone attempting to place the call inthe active iPOC cell phone network. If in steps 9006 and 9007 noconnection can be established a busy signal is transmitted back to thecell phone, attempting to place the call in step 9010, the call isterminated step 9011, and the cell phone provider's network returns tonormal operations, step 9012. If on the other hand in step 9006 and 9007a connection can be established a ring signal is transmitted back to thecell phone in the iPOC cell attempting to place the call, step 9008. Instep 9009, if the cell phone user does not answer the call the phonecontinues to ring indefinitely. If the call is answered in step 9009then step 9013 the iPOC device in conjunction with the cell phoneprovider completes the connection and the call is in progress, step9014. The call remains active until either party ends the call, step9015. It is detects the of the call in step 9016 and the call isterminated in step 9011 where the cell phone provider's network returnsto normal operation, step 9012.

FIG. 9 illustrates the major functional components of an informationprocessing device 10000 on which this invention can be realized in wholeor in part. The functional elements include a power source 10001, mainmemory or RAM (Random Access Memory) 10002, Read Only Memory (ROM)10003, a processor 10004 that executes programming instructions, otherelectronics 10005 which may be implemented on computer chips or ASICs(Application Specific Integrated Circuits) and a system clock 10006.Information processing device 10000 includes an Input/Output function10007 that interfaces with display interface 10008, keyboard 10009, andmouse 10010. The I/O function 10007 also includes features and optionalinterfaces such as serial port 10011, PCI 10012, network interface10013, and Small Computer Serial Interface (SCSI) or Integrated DeviceElectronics (IDE) 10014 interface is used to connect to hard disk drive10016 and removable media device 10015. Most functional elements aredesigned as a combination of electronic and executable code.

1. A personal, low-power, lightweight, compact mobile cell phone basestation adapter feature, integrated into a personal computer or laptopor handheld computer, to provide temporary localized cell phonecommunications for home, office, school or travel, supporting a limitednumber of cell phone users, capable of dynamically and automaticallygenerating a new active cell at a user selectable location to extend aprivate cell phone communication network coverage area comprising:electronic circuits used to implement said cell phone base stationadapter feature; a first communication interface interconnected to saidcell phone base station adapter feature electronic circuits forgenerating signals for communication with a cell phone; a secondcommunication interface from said cell phone base station adapterfeature electronic circuits to said personal computer or lap topenabling said cell phone base station adapter feature to interface withand communicate through said personal computer or lap top or handheldcomputer via a third communication interface integrated into saidpersonal computer or laptop for establishing a separate communicationchannel through an ISP (Internet Service Provider) to the Internet orthrough a PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Network) either of whichcommunicates to a cell phone communication network MTSO (MobileTelephone Switching Office) controller enabling said cell phone basestation adapter feature to connect through said first communicationinterface through said personal computer or laptop or handheld computerthrough said third communication interface through an ISP (InternetService Provider) to the Internet or through a PSTN (Public SwitchedTelephone Network) to communicate with a cell phone communicationnetwork MTSO controller; a power port for providing energy to allow saidcell phone base station adapter feature electronic circuits and saidcellphone base station communications interfaces to operate; data andexecutable computer code resident in a personal computer or lap top orhandheld computer system memory enabling said integrated base station tooperate in conjunction with said personal computer or laptop computer orhandheld computer; a means by which said compact integrated cell phonebase station feature, operating in conjunction with said personalcomputer or laptop, identifies itself to a cell phone communicationsnetwork MTSO controller to negotiate permission for said integratedmobile base station feature for incorporation into said cell phoneprivate communication network as a new additional active cell and use atleast 1 cell phone communication channel.
 2. A mobile cell phone basestation adapter feature as in claim-1 where first communicationinterface is an antenna interconnected to said electronic circuits forgenerating electromagnetic signals for communication with a cell phone;3. An mobile cell phone base station adapter feature as in claim-1 wherefirst communication interface is connected directly to a cell phoneincorporated into said lap top or personal computer or handheldcomputer.
 4. A personal, low-power, lightweight, compact mobile cellphone installable base station adapter feature, integrated into apersonal computer or laptop or handheld computer, to provide temporarylocalized cell phone communications for home, office, school or travel,supporting a limited number of cell phone users, capable of dynamicallyand automatically generating a new active cell at a user selectablelocation to extend a private cell phone communication network coveragearea comprising: electronic circuits used to implement said cell phoneinstallable base station adapter feature; an antenna interconnected tosaid electronic circuits for generating electromagnetic signals forcommunication with a cell phone; a first communication interface fromsaid cell phone installable base station adapter feature to saidpersonal computer or lap top or handheld computer enabling said cellphone installable base station adapter feature to communicate throughsaid personal computer or lap top or handheld computer to a secondcommunication interface integrated into said personal computer or laptopfor establishing a separate communication channel through an ISP(Internet Service Provider) to the Internet or through a PSTN (PublicSwitched Telephone Network) either of which communicates to a cell phonecommunication network MTSO (Mobile Telephone Switching Office)controller enabling said cell phone installable base station adapterfeature to connect through said first communication interface throughsaid personal computer or laptop or handheld computer through saidsecond communication interface through an ISP (Internet ServiceProvider) to the Internet or through a PSTN (Public Switched TelephoneNetwork) to communicate with a cell phone communication network MTSOcontroller; a power port for providing energy to allow said cell phonebase station installable adapter feature electronic circuits, saidantenna, and said communications interface to function; data andexecutable computer code resident in a personal computer or lap topsystem memory enabling said integrated base station to operate inconjunction with said personal computer or laptop computer or handheldcomputer; a means by which said compact integrated cell phone basestation feature, operating in conjunction with said personal computer orlaptop, identifies itself to a cell phone communications network MTSOcontroller to negotiate permission for said integrated mobile basestation feature for incorporation into said cell phone privatecommunication network as a new additional active cell and use at least 1cell phone communication channel.
 5. A mobile cell phone installablebase station adapter feature as in claim-4 capable of negotiating withsaid cell phone private communication network MTSO controller that hasno prior pre-configured data of its existence or location for permissionfor said installable mobile cell phone installable base station adapterfeature to be incorporated into said cell phone private communicationnetwork as a new additional active cell.
 6. A mobile cell phoneinstallable base station adapter feature as in claim-4 with sufficientlylow transmission power output so that said cell phone base stationminimizes interference to preexisting cells so that it is in compliancewith pertinent governmental regulatory guidelines and thus can beactivated at any user selectable location.
 7. A mobile cell phoneinstallable base station adapter feature as in claim-4 that provides thegeographic location of installable mobile cell phone base stationadapter feature to the cell phone network MTSO to negotiate permissionto use at least 1 cell phone channel that does not interfere withpreexisting cells in the private cell phone network and thus can beactivated at any user selectable location.
 8. A mobile cell phoneinstallable base station adapter feature as in claim-4 that utilizes aleast 1 reserved cell phone channel not used by preexisting cell phonenetwork base stations to prevent interference to preexisting cells sothat it is in compliance with governmental regulatory guidelines andthus can be activated at any user selectable location.
 9. A mobile cellphone installable base station adapter feature as in claim-4 withcomputer readable media for storing said data and executable computerprogram.
 10. A system for providing temporary localized cell phonecommunications for home, office, school or travel, supporting a limitednumber of cell phone users, capable of dynamically and automaticallygenerating a new active cell at a user selectable location to extend aprivate cell phone communication network coverage area comprising: acell phone; a personal computer or laptop; a personal, low-power,lightweight, compact mobile cell phone base station installable adapterfeature, integrated into a personal computer or laptop or handheldcomputer, a first communication interface from said cell phone basestation installable adapter feature to said personal computer or lap topenabling said cell phone base station installable adapter feature tocommunicate through said personal computer or lap top; a secondcommunication interface integrated into personal computer or laptop orhandheld computer for establishing a separate communication channelthrough an ISP (Internet Service Provider) to the Internet or through aPSTN (Public Switched Telephone Network) enabling said cell phone basestation to connect to and communicate with a cell phone communicationnetwork MTSO (Mobile Telephone Switching Office) controller; data andexecutable computer code resident in a personal computer or lap top orhandheld computer system memory enabling said integrated base station tooperate in conjunction with said personal computer or laptop computer orhandheld computer; a means by which said compact integrated cell phonebase station feature, operating in conjunction with said personalcomputer or laptop, identifies itself to a cell phone communicationsnetwork MTSO controller to negotiate permission for said integratedmobile base station feature for incorporation into said cell phoneprivate communication network as a new additional active cell and use atleast 1 cell phone communication channel.
 11. A means for a personal,low-power, lightweight, compact mobile cell phone base stationinstallable adapter feature, integrated into a personal computer orlaptop to provide temporary localized cell phone communications forhome, office, school or travel, supporting a limited number of cellphone users, capable of dynamically and automatically generating a newactive cell at a user selectable location to extend a private cell phonecommunication network coverage area comprising: establishing acommunication channel from installable mobile cell phone base stationadapter feature through a first communication interface from said cellphone base station installable adapter feature to said personal computeror lap top or handheld computer enabling said cell phone base stationinstallable adapter feature to communicate through said personalcomputer or lap top or handheld computer to a second communicationinterface integrated into said personal computer or laptop forestablishing a separate communication channel through an ISP to theInternet or through a PSTN enabling said cell phone base station toconnect to and communicate with a cell phone communication network MTSOcontroller; negotiating permission to generate a new cell from saidprivate cell phone network whereby the operating parameters aredetermined by said private cell phone network MTSO in communication withsaid cell phone base station adapter feature; analyzing data relative toa predefined criteria in order to determine if said base station shouldbe allowed to be added to said cell phone network; granting permissionby the private cell phone network within operating parametersestablished by said private cell phone network; incorporating said cellphone base station adapter feature into said communications network ifthe request to join meets said predefined criteria; managing cell phonetraffic from a cell phone through said base station through acommunication network to said private cell phone network.
 12. Computerreadable media for storing a computer software for a personal,low-power, lightweight, compact mobile cell phone base stationinstallable adapter feature, integrated into a personal computer orlaptop or handheld computer to provide temporary localized cell phonecommunications for home, office, school or travel, supporting a limitednumber of cell phone users, capable of dynamically and automaticallygenerating a new active cell at a user selectable location to extend aprivate cell phone communication network coverage area comprising:establishing a communication channel from installable mobile cell phonebase station adapter feature through a first communication interfacefrom said cell phone base station installable adapter feature to saidpersonal computer or lap top enabling said cell phone base stationinstallable adapter feature to communicate through said personalcomputer or lap top or handheld computer to a second communicationinterface integrated into said personal computer or laptop forestablishing a separate communication channel through an ISP to theInternet or through a PSTN enabling said cell phone base station toconnect to and communicate with a cell phone communication network MTSOcontroller; negotiating permission to generate a new cell from saidprivate cell phone network whereby the operating parameters aredetermined by said private cell phone network MTSO in communication withsaid cell phone base station adapter feature; analyzing data relative toa predefined criteria in order to determine if said base station shouldbe allowed to be added to said cell phone network; granting permissionby the private cell phone network within operating parametersestablished by said private cell phone network; incorporating said cellphone base station adapter feature into said communications network ifthe request to join meets said predefined criteria; managing cell phonetraffic from a cell phone through said base station through acommunication network to said private cell phone network.